"Tales from the Crypt" Fatal Caper (TV Episode 1996) Poster

(TV Series)

(1996)

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8/10
Well done episode with a shocking twist that proves changing gender shows the will and way to inherit a fortune!
blanbrn11 May 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This episode one "Fatal Caper" from season 7(and the last season) of the crypt was pretty well done as it's paced out well with intrigue and suspense drama that leads up to a shocking twist of greed and power at the end. Set internationally in London, England at a mansion of a family the tale involves the inheritance will of a nobleman and his three sons, two who are unworthy and the other has disappeared or has he? Anyway enter the sly and slick sexy Natasha Richardson as a woman who has plans and advises the men down a path of malevolent moves and turns. One by one the characters fall and the twist in the end is a big shock as a revealing of gender identity shows that people will do anything or everything to inherit wealth and become more greedy! Well crafted and done by Bob Hoskins who also has a small part plus Natasha Richardson adds spice and warms up the episode with her sexy and cold turn. Overall this was one of the better last season episodes of tales.
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8/10
Fatal Caper
Scarecrow-8811 September 2011
Warning: Spoilers
"In the end Mycroft just didn't make the cut. Then again, neither had Frank…"

There's more to this Cryptkeeper joke than you realize; it'll make sense once you see this hilarious episode of Tales from the Crypt, which has more twists and turns than a roller coaster, about a lecherous family in England who have lived a life of wealth and luxury they certainly don't deserve. Evelyn Amberson (James Saxon) is an obese and self-absorbed cretin who is absolutely the poster child for greed and back-stabbing, his brother, Justin (Greg Wise), a sex fiend into meditation and tantric gratification (but just as nefarious as Evelyn, albeit more attractive, if repulsively lascivious). Both are vying for an inheritance through their businessman father's will, a stipulation that requires them to find misbegotten brother Frank, who was sent packing some years ago. A lawyer, Fiona Havisham (Natasha Richardson, who is positively stunning, never has she been easier on the eyes, even costumed in suits, her face is enchanting), is hired to take care of the wishes of Mycroft...the thing is, she may have an agenda of her own.

Directed by Bob Hoskins (who also has a small role as Mycroft's trusted associate, Redmond), this episode isn't overtly gory, as much as, devilishly clever, with plenty of acerbic wit and black humor fitting for the show. Seeing both brothers, with Fiona egging them on, trying to stab each other in the back, consumed by their own lust for Papa's fortune, only to fall to the trickery of another, is a real treat. Richardson's "reveal" is quite a "Holy Crap" moment, that puts the icing on the cake ("I bet that's one son-rise, Mycroft wishes he'd never seen."). John Phillips is the patriarch of this vile clan, Mycroft, who receives quite a surprise!

"Well, kiddies, looks like I'll be staying in England for a while. I think we'll all enjoy the trip. And when we finally do go home, I'm sure we'll have lots of souven-ears.
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8/10
Good episode with a nice twist
bellino-angelo201417 July 2021
Lord Mycroft Amberson (Leslie Phillips) is a wealthy old man that has some sort of heart condition and adds something to his will after a discussion with his loyal butler (Bob Hoskins, who also directed the episode): his two sons Justin and Evelyn (who is a man that had sex change) have to relocate their long lost brother Frank, or else their inheritance will go to charity. Soon enters Fiona Avysham (Natasha Richardson) that has plans and helps the men with moves and turns. However one by one the three brothers fail because Fiona even convinces them to do a seance and Mycroft (who they thought it was buried a week ago) kinda returns from the dead and has his final revenge...

This is the first episode of the last season and you can see that it's set in London if you look at the names of the cast. It's very good like many others of the previous seasons with good performances by Phillips, Hoskins and gorgeous blonde Richardson. As usual, not to be missed.
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5/10
Light hearted Tales from the Crypt episode.
poolandrews23 November 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Tales from the Crypt: Fatal Caper is set in England where ultra rich Lord Mycroft Amberson (Leslie Phillips) expects he will die very soon, his long time aide Redmond (Bob Hoskins) appoints sexy lawyer Fiona Havisham (Natasha Richardson) to sort out Lord Amberson's affairs. Lord Amberson has two loser son's Justin (Greg Wise) & Evelyn (James Saxon) whom all hate each other with a passion. However fifteen years previous Lord Amberson threw Franklin his third son out of his house & hasn't seen or heard from him since, Lord Amberson regrets this & changes his will so that for Justin & Evelyn to inherit the money they have to find Franklin within six months or all the Amberson fortune goes to charity. As greed raises it's ugly head there are people who will do anything to get their cut of the fortune...

Episode 1 from season 7 which turned out to be the final season to date Fatal Caper is significant in the sense that for the seventh season production switched to England for some reason & while the strong cast list & production values continued the seventh season just lacked a little bit of magic although there are still one or two decent episodes to be found & enjoyed. Although Fatal Caper isn't classic Tales from the Crypt it's watchable in a rather camp sort of way & there's a quite ridiculous twist ending that is certainly memorable but it was always going to be nigh on impossible to do it justice on screen. This episode was actually directed by well known actor Bob Hoskins who has a smallish role in it & was based on a story from the 'Tales from the Crypt' comic book although this filmed adaptation has no resemblance to the comic book apart from the title as the two have totally different stories. There's a real camp feel to this episode, there's lots of silly humour & a comedy soundtrack which didn't sit too well with me as I want my Tales from the Crypt to have black humour sure but not out & out camp & comedy. There's are three or four twist's at the end which come in quick succession, to be honest it does get a little bit silly & how did they arrange & pull off a full funeral for a guy who wan't dead?

During the opening Cryptkeeper sequence he says that he has moved to London & there's some stock footage of London landmarks like Big Ben & London Bridge. There's no gore in this one, someone is stabbed with a large spike but that's it. Quite why production moved to England I don't know but the change of scenery is nice although by the seasons end I suspect that won't be the case. The cast continues to impress with the likes of Bob Hoskins, Natasha Richardson & Leslie Phillips.

Fatal Caper is a reasonable Tales from the Crypt episode that has plenty of twist's but a somewhat ridiculous one to finish things off & the plot about greed & double crosses feels a little tired. Fun in a daft sort of way but by no means a classic.
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